Jewish Dems Hail Obama Commitment: “I Will Stand With Israel if They Are Attacked”

NJDC — October 22, 2012 – 10:55 pm | Barack Obama | Election 2012 | Iran | Israel Comments (0) Add a comment

The National Jewish Democratic Council tonight hailed President Barack Obama’s affirmation of support for Israel in the event of an attack by Iran. NJDC President and CEO David A. Harris said:

President Obama’s statements of unequivocal support for Israel tonight—including his commitment to stand by Israel if it is attacked by Iran—is just the latest demonstration of this President’s rock-solid commitment to the Jewish state and its security. His words speak for themselves, and indeed they speak so powerfully that all Governor Mitt Romney could do was chime in with a quiet ‘me too’ reply. In fact, Governor Romney tonight just  continued to mislead the American people about President Obama’s record—especially concerning Israel and Iran. For pro-Israel voters, only one candidate in this race has a proven record when it comes to standing up for Israel’s security, and those voters were reminded of that tonight. President Obama showed—in this exchange, and throughout the evening—why and how he has stewarded the U.S.-Israel relationship and the effort to halt Iran so powerfully and with maturity, seriousness and confidence over the past four years.

Rush transcript of Obama’s remarks (emphasis added):

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, first of all, Israel is a true friend, it is our greatest ally in the region, and if Israel is attacked, America will stand with Israel.  I have made that clear throughout my presidency. 

MODERATOR:  So you are saying-you have already made that declaration? 

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  I will stand with Israel if they are attacked, and this is the reason why, working with Israel we have created the strongest military and intelligence cooperation between our two countries in history.  In fact, this week we will be carrying out the largest military exercise with Israel in history, this very week, but to the issue of Iran, as long as I’m President of the United States, Iran will not get a nuclear weapon.  I made that clear when I came into office.  We then organized the strongest coalition and the strongest sanctions against Iran in history, and it is crippling their economy.  Their currency has dropped 80 percent.  Their oil production has plunged to the lowest level since they were fighting a war with Iraq 20 years ago.  So their economy is in a shambles.  And the reason we did this is because a nuclear Iran is a threat to our national security and it’s a threat to Israel’s national security.  We cannot afford to have a nuclear arms race in the most volatile region of the world.  Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism, and for them to be able to provide nuclear technology to nonstate actors, that’s unacceptable.  And they have said that they want to see Israel wiped off the map.  So the work that we’ve done with respect to sanctions now offers Iran a choice.  They can take the diplomatic route and end their nuclear program or they will have to face a united world and a United States President, me, who said we’re not going to take any options off the table. The disagreement I have with Governor Romney is that during the course of this campaign he has often talked as if we should take premature military action.  I think that would be a mistake because when I sent young men and women into harm’s way, I always understand that that is the last resort, not the first resort.

Below is a fact check and roundup of debate highlights:    

Iran

*President Obama Defined Red Lines in Cooperation with Israel

*President Obama made it clear tonight that he stands with Israel on Iran. He said, “I will stand with Israel if they are attacked [...] And they have said that they want to see Israel wiped off the map.  So the work that we’ve done with respect to sanctions now offers Iran a choice.  They can take the diplomatic route and end their nuclear program or they will have to face a united world and a United States President, me, who said we’re not going to take any options off the table. Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism, and for them to be able to provide nuclear technology to nonstate actors, that’s unacceptable.”

*Romney, however, was not nearly as clear. He offered no “red line,” a position which he has flipped on before.

*In a September 14th interview with George Stephanopoulos, Romney admitted, “My red line is Iran may not have a nuclear weapon. It is inappropriate for them to have the capacity to terrorize the world.  Iran with a nuclear weapon or with fissile material that can be given to Hezbollah or Hamas or others has the potential of not just destabilizing the Middle East. But it could be brought here.” Later in the interview, Stephanopoulos asked he and Obama shared a red line, and he replied, “yes.”

* A week later, Romney flipped on a Rosh Hashanah call with rabbis from around the United States. When asked about his red line, Romney responded, “For me, it is unacceptable for Iran to have the capability of building a nuclear weapon, which they could use in the Middle East or elsewhere. So for me, the red line is nuclear capability. We do not want them to have the capacity of building a bomb that threatens ourselves, our friends, and the world.”

*President Obama Put Into Place the Strongest Sanctions Ever

*President Obama was clear tonight that the sanctions are working. “We then organized the strongest coalition and the strongest sanctions against Iran in history, and it is crippling their economy.  Their currency has dropped 80 percent.  Their oil production has plunged to the lowest level since they were fighting a war with Iraq 20 years ago.  So their economy is in a shambles.  And the reason we did this is because a nuclear Iran is a threat to our national security and it’s a threat to Israel’s national security.  We cannot afford to have a nuclear arms race in the most volatile region of the world.”

*President Obama has led an international sanctions movement which has severely weakened Iran’s nuclear prospects. He imposed the strongest ever sanctions on a rival in United States history.

*Last week, the New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times and Jerusalem Post all reported that Iran’s economy was the verge of collapse. The rial (Iran’s currency) dropped in value by 40 percent since the beginning of October.

*This week, it was reported in the New York Times that Iran was willing to come to the table with the United States.

*During the debate, Governor Romney was not nearly as clear. Instead of offering new ideas for the Iran question, Romney instead said, “crippling sanctions are something I called for five years ago.”

*Mitt Romney’s Bogus Apology Tour Claim

* When asked about Iran sanctions and what he would do differently than Obama, Governor Romney shifted and discussed what he calls Obama’s “Apology Tour”. He did not offer any new ideas or that he would do anything differently. He relied on his continuous lie that Obama has gone around the world apologizing for America. Many fact checkers, including Politifact, have confirmed this.

* The facts are that America is stronger around the world because of the leadership of the Obama administration. President Obama said it best during this debate, (paraphrased) “Sanctions are meticulous [...] We had to get everybody to agree.”

Israel

Tonight, President Obama made clear there should be no doubts - “America will stand with Israel.” The President has made it a priority since the beginning of his administration that the bond between the U.S. and Israel is unbreakable. President Obama means what he says when he refers to Israel as a “true friend” and the “greatest ally” in the Middle East. Throughout his term, the President has expanded cooperation to new heights: 

*Led Unprecedented U.S.-Israel Security Cooperation

*The President, since early in his administration, directed the Pentagon to increase U.S. military aid to Israel, looking to “‘deepen and expand the quantity and intensity of cooperation to the fullest extent.’”

*According to Foreign Policy, “The Obama administration has increased security assistance to Israel every single year since the president took office, providing nearly $10 billion in aid—covering roughly a fifth of Israel’s defense budget—over the past three years.”

*Restored Israel’s Military Qualitative Edge (QME)

*Lapsing under the previous administration, President Obama came into office committed to advancing Israel’s QME, making it a top priority of his administration. And the response was swift:

“We came to the Obama administration and said, ‘Listen, we have a problem here,’” [Israeli Ambassador] Oren, told a gathering of the National Jewish Democratic Council. “The administration’s reaction was immediate: we are going to address this issue, we are going to make sure that we maintain your QME [qualitative military edge].”

*Adam Kredo wrote about Obama’s impact on QME for Washington Jewish Week, writing, “...the facts can’t be disputed: Obama has brought the U.S.-Israel military relationship to new heights.”

*Provided Record Funding for Iron Dome to Protect Israeli Lives

*Having traveled to Sderot and seen the effects of rockets attacks by Hamas, President Obama led efforts to fund Iron Dome which has saved hundreds of lives since its inception.

*According to the Wall Street Journal, “The U.S. has so far committed $275 million to support the Iron Dome, which consists of arrays with about 20 rockets each, a command-and-control center and a radar facility. Each system can cover an area the size of a small city… Mr. [Ehud] Barak said the system has intercepted more than 100 rockets so far fired from Gaza and has a success rate of more than 80%.”

*Israel and the U.S. Participate in Largest-Ever Joint Air Defense Exercise

*Just this month, both countries announced that they would be participating in the “largest-ever joint air defense drill of its kind in Israel” scheduled to begin on October 21.

*Received Praise from Highest Echelons of Israel’s Leadership

*Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

“I think that standing your ground, taking this position of principle… I    think this is a badge of honor and I want to thank you for wearing that badge of honor.”

“Americans know that Israel and the United States share common values, that we defend common interests, that we face common enemies. ... We are you, and you are us. We’re together.”

*President Shimon Peres:

“Mr. President, I know your commitment to Israel is deep and profound. Under your leadership, security cooperation between the US and Israel has reached its highest level. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a friend in the White House.”

”Thank you America for being our friend and our ally. And thank you President Barack Obama, for your leadership, for your deep and moving ongoing and unwavering commitment to the peace and security of our land.”

*Defense Minister Ehud Barak:

“I should tell you honestly that this Administration under President Obama is doing in regard to our security more than anything that I can remember in the past.”

“The unshakable bonds between Israel and America and their respective defense establishments under the guiding hand of President Barack Obama are stronger and deeper than ever and we are very thankful and appreciative of that.”

*Stood Up for Israel at the U.N.

*Proudly announced U.S. opposition to unilateral Palestinian action at the U.N. saying,“And the United States will stand up against efforts to single Israel out at the United Nations or in any international forum. Israel’s legitimacy is not a matter for debate. That is my commitment; that is my pledge to all of you.”

*Sold Bunker-Busting Bombs When Others Wouldn’t

*While refused by the Bush Administration, Israel received bunker-busting bombs from President Obama, providing them with an effective defense against an Iranian attack.

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